KUCHING: Stakan SUPP has proposed a Recall Act to empower voters to remove underperforming or misleading elected representatives before the end of their term.
The proposal seeks to introduce a legal mechanism allowing constituents to recall their Member of Parliament or Ahli Dewan Undangan Sarawak under specific conditions.
“A victory at the polls should not be a blank cheque for five years of unaccountability,” said Stakan SUPP chairman Cr Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok.
He said that the proposed legislation is crucial to uphold democratic integrity and ensure elected representatives remain accountable to the electorate throughout their tenure in office.
The proposal outlines that recall proceedings could be triggered if a representative reneges on campaign promises, misleads legislative bodies, or engages in proven moral misconduct.
“When a representative fails the people, voters should not have to wait until the next general election to take action.”
Sim suggested that the recall process begin with a petition supported by at least 10 per cent of registered voters within the constituency.
“Once the threshold is met and verified, a recall election or formal removal process should be triggered in accordance with established legal procedures.”
He noted that similar democratic safeguards are already practised in several advanced parliamentary systems, reinforcing accountability and strengthening public confidence in elected leadership.
“In the United Kingdom, the Recall of MPs Act 2015 enables voters to remove MPs through a structured petition process under defined legal thresholds.”
He also highlighted that Senedd Cymru has introduced comparable legislation allowing voters to recall elected members between elections through a formal mechanism.
“These international examples demonstrate that recall laws strengthen parliamentary democracy and ensure leaders remain answerable to the rakyat throughout their term.”
He further stressed that Sarawak must strive to uphold high democratic standards as it advances its rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“If an MP or ADUN betrays public trust or behaves inappropriately, voters must have the legal tools to withdraw their mandate.”
Stakan SUPP urged authorities to study the feasibility of implementing such a law at the state level and consider similar measures federally.
